PEOPLE In Callington and the surrounding areas who bank with NatWest will have to look at other ways of banking as the Callington branch is set to close.

NatWest has said it has taken the 'difficult decision' to close the branch after a fall in the number of people using it but assures customers there are other ways to continue banking with the firm.

A spokesperson for NatWest said: 'We are working hard to ensure there are a number of alternative ways for people in the area to continue to bank with us.

'We have reached an agreement with the local post office, which is close to the branch, so that our customers can check their balance, deposit and withdraw funds and business customers can get coinage.'

There are six free to use ATMs within one mile of the branch where people can withdraw money and the spokesperson said that the company will be introducing a 'mobile branch service' to the community and will be engaging with customers to decide the best day and time for the mobile branch to visit.

The number of transactions taking place at NatWest's Callington branch has dropped by 20% since 2011 and only 62 customers use the branch on a regular weekly basis. Nineteen of these customers already use other branches in the area.

The spokesperson added: 'We are committed to following the UK Government protocol on branch closures and we have made the decision following careful consideration of a wide range of factors, including branch usage and the alternative ways our customers can bank with us locally.

'Our customers are increasingly using alternative ways to bank with us such as online and mobile banking. As a result, branch transactions have declined by around 36 percent since 2010 while online and mobile transactions have grown by more than 300 percent.

'Only nine percent of their total transactions are now undertaken in branches in comparison to 25 percent in 2010.'

The branch will close on September 7.